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US4351297A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1980-11-14
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Granted: 1982-09-28
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Expires: 2000-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and method for correcting the ignition timing of an engine after cold startup, in which a spark retard correction value is gradually reduced to zero over a period of time irrespective of the coolant temperature of the engine, after the coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined value. As a result, the emission of noxious components in the exhaust gases can be effectively reduced when the engine is started from the cold condition.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshio Suematsu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 17:35
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/15; F02P5/1502; F02P5/1506; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
A method of controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine after startup, comprising the steps of: detecting the coolant temperature of the engine and producing an electrical signal indicative of said detected coolant temperature; calculating an ignition timing correction value from said produced temperature signal, by using a function describing a desired relationship between the coolant temperature and the ignition timing correction value, when the detected coolant temperature is lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature which is lower than a second coolant temperature of the completely warmed-up engine; after the detected coolant temperature exceeds said first predetermined value, reducing the ignition timing correction value gradually over a period of time to zero from the value calculated by the above calculating step when the detected coolant temperature is equal to said predetermined value; and retarding the ignition timing of the engine in accordance with said ignition timing correction value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 153 words
A method of controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine after startup, comprising the steps of: detecting the coolant temperature of the engine and producing an electrical signal indicative of said detected coolant temperature; calculating an ignition timing correction value from said produced temperature signal, by using a function describing a desired relationship between the coolant temperature and the ignition timing correction value, when the detected coolant temperature is lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature which is lower than a second coolant temperature of the completely warmed-up engine; after the detected coolant temperature exceeds said first predetermined value, reducing the ignition timing correction value gradually over a period of time to zero from the value calculated by the above calculating step when the detected coolant temperature is equal to said predetermined value; and retarding the ignition timing of the engine in accordance with said ignition timing correction value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 71 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function describing a desired relationship between the coolant temperature and the ignition timing correction value has a characteristic such that the ignition timing correction value deviates from zero to the negative side when the coolant temperature is lower than an extremely low value and deviates from zero to the positive side when the coolant temperature is higher than said extremely low value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reducing step includes a step of reducing the ignition timing correction value in stepwise decrements at predetermined time intervals after the detected coolant temperature exceeds said predetermined first value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises bypassing said reducing step when the detected coolant temperature at engine startup exceeds said second temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 159 words
Apparatus for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting the coolant temperature of the engine and producing an electrical signal indicative of said detected coolant temperature; means for calculating an ignition timing correction value from said produced temperature signal, by using a function describing a desired relationship between the coolant temperature and the ignition timing correction value, when the detected coolant temperature is lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature which is lower than a second predetermined temperature of the completely warmed-up engine; means for gradually reducing the ignition timing correction value to zero, over a predetermined period of time after the detected coolant temperature exceeds said first predetermined temperature, from the value calculated by the above calculating step when the detected coolant temperature is equal to said first predetermined value; and means for delaying the ignition timing of the engine in accordance with said ignition timing correction value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 159 words
Apparatus for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting the coolant temperature of the engine and producing an electrical signal indicative of said detected coolant temperature; means for calculating an ignition timing correction value from said produced temperature signal, by using a function describing a desired relationship between the coolant temperature and the ignition timing correction value, when the detected coolant temperature is lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature which is lower than a second predetermined temperature of the completely warmed-up engine; means for gradually reducing the ignition timing correction value to zero, over a predetermined period of time after the detected coolant temperature exceeds said first predetermined temperature, from the value calculated by the above calculating step when the detected coolant temperature is equal to said first predetermined value; and means for delaying the ignition timing of the engine in accordance with said ignition timing correction value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said function describing a desired relationship between the coolant temperature and the ignition timing correction value has a characteristic such that the ignition timing correction value deviates from zero to the negative side when the coolant temperature is lower than an extremely low value and deviates from zero to the positive side when the coolant temperature is higher than said extremely low value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for reducing the ignition timing correction value reduces said value in stepwise decrements at predetermined time intervals after the detected coolant temperature exceeds said first predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising means for bypassing said reducing means when the detected coolant temperature at engine startup exceeds said second temperature.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3793833A Cited
US4096843A Cited
US4104998A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-09-27 1986-03-29 1986-09-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-09-27 1990-03-29 1990-09-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-09-27 1994-03-29 1994-09-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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